PUNJAB HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION
10th Floor, Arfa Software Technology Park,
346-B, Ferozepur Road, Lahore
Ph. No. 042-99231906 Fax No. 042-99231902
Call for Research Proposal
Part-A
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
for THEMATIC RESEARCH PROPOSALS
1.
INTRODUCTION
Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC), established through an Act of Punjab
Assembly in 2014, is an autonomous body striving for excellence in the field of academics and
research in Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) of Punjab. For the purpose, PHEC is generously
funding various scholarship and fellowship schemes and is contributing to the country’s
knowledge economy by creating a group of scholars who are well equipped with modern,
innovative, critical and market-driven skills. Keeping in view the current global trends and
indigenous needs of the society, PHEC is taking another step to address impediments to the
social, economic and political development of the province and to offer viable and practical
solutions to the policy makers which can contribute to actualizing the vision of the Chief
Minister of the Punjab. Under this initiative, PHEC seeks research proposals from qualified
faculty members of public sector colleges and universities of the province for the following
themes.
2.
THEMES
Theme 1
Skilled Based Education as a Promising Indicator of Knowledge-Based Economy
Under this theme researchers are required to delineate the contours of a knowledgebased economy and global economic trends with their particular relevance to local context and
economy; thus suggesting a viable paradigm for the socio-economic development of Pakistan
especially focusing on entrepreneurship as an emerging industry of Pakistan. It is supposed to
map out the necessity of skill-based education in line with both local industrial demands and
global hi-tech markets. Secondly, the research will also highlight the potential to be generated
through skill-based education in the aftermath of a collection of data from various primary and
secondary resources.
Theme 2
Academia-Industry Linkages
The topics under this theme are expected to address the missing links in academiaindustry interaction in Pakistan. So far the current research in Pakistan has been carried
without mapping the industrial needs. The proposed research ought to take into account
industrial necessity to make the local products competitive in the global market. The
marketable solutions of industrial problems can result into better links between them on a
reciprocal basis. Furthermore, research will have a positive impact on the quality of academics
and research of such partnerships. They can stimulate a culture of entrepreneurship among
students and provide them practical exposure.
Theme 3
Pakistan’s current democratic transition: drivers and Implications
Under the above theme, researchers are required to address social, political and
economic challenges to democracy, their solutions, and implications for policy makers and
other stakeholders. Secondly, being a country of growing young population, there is exigency to
carry out research on youth, their aspirations (political, social and economic) and their vision
for the future of Pakistan. Thirdly, the research should aim to locate youth in the democratic
policy making initiatives by making academic institutions partner with policy making
organizations of Pakistan.
Theme 4
Demographic Transition and Urbanization: Implications for Policy Makers
Under this theme, researchers are required to probe the demographic and technological
trends occurring in the urban areas of Punjab. The research on these themes would help
develop a new paradigm of thinking based on empirics which can be helpful to develop planned
town and urban planning initiatives. Secondly, technological advancements in the realm of
internet age have put a premium on the role of social planning. The research envisions to
develop a democratization of ideas through which social planning would have positive effects
on the social order of Pakistan. The vulnerabilities of Pakistani society are to be explored and
the workable solutions to the challenges are anticipated through successful execution of
research projects.
3.
OBJECTIVES
Following are the broader objectives to be achieved through this initiative
1. To identify and address the issues which impede the social, political, and economic
development of Punjab
2. To offer innovative, viable and affordable solutions for such issues.
3. To produce an archive of indigenous knowledge grounded in local context.
4. To facilitate policy makers with pragmatic solutions to devise policies to bring a positive
developmental change in the country.
5. To provide researchers an opportunity to enhance their critical thinking abilities and
research skills to tackle local issues.
4.
BUDGET ESTIMATES
Maximum funding for each research project may be up to Rs. 3.000 million. Principal
Investigators (PIs) will submit a detailed budget proposal for his/her project on the prescribed
Proforma available at http://punjabhec.gov.pk/scholarships. The budget will be prepared as per
the allocated budget heads whereby 70% of the budget will be consumed exclusively on
research activities while the remaining 30% will be allocated for human resource. No additional
cost will be provided for the project. The scope of the research proposal must be determined
prior.
5.
DURATION
Grants will be provided to the successful candidates for 12 months. The funding will be
transferred to the concerned university which will administer the grant and will ensure the
timely completion of the project.
6.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.
7.
The Principal Investigators (PIs) of proposed research project must be a full-time regular
faculty member (BPS or TTS) or on contract not less than project life in public sector
colleges and universities of Punjab.
Period of execution of the Research project should not exceed 12 months.
Maximum funding for Research Proposal may be up to 3 million.
PI cannot submit more than one (01) research project.
Applications may be considered ineligible if they are;
a. Incomplete
b. Not filed in prescribed proforma
c. Not received by Academic & Research (A&R) Division of PHEC on or before the
closing date.
d. Not signed/countersigned/endorsed by the Head of the Institution (Vice
Chancellor/Rector/Director).
PROPOSAL REVIEW PROCESS
The submitted research proposals will be reviewed by a committee of experts
constituted by PHEC. The recommended research proposals will qualify for the grant on the
final approval of the competent authority.
8.
DEADLINE OF SUBMISSION
The last date to submit the research proposals is May 29, 2017 (Monday). Applications,
complete in all respect, should reach to Director, Academics & Research (A&R) PHEC on or
before the deadline.
9.
FORMAT OF RESEARCH PROPOSAL
The Research Proposal should necessarily comprise of all the important chapters e.g.
Introduction, Literature Review, Research Methodology, Data Collection & Analysis Techniques,
Tentative Findings and Projected Timeline of each step. APA 6th (Revised) format should strictly
be followed for the research proposals.
10.
SUBMISSION OF RESEARCH PROPOSALS
PIs will submit the research proposals along with the attached budget Proforma and
supporting documents in the following order.
Sr. #
Document
To be annexed as
1
Research Proposal
Annexure- A
2
Duly filled Budget Proforma
Annexure- B
3
Attested copy of CNIC
Annexure- C
4
Detailed CV
Annexure- D
5
Verified copy (from university) of the highest degree
Annexure- E
6
Details of projects previously conducted/ currently undergoing
Annexure- F
Dr. Muhammad Shahid Soroya
Director General (Special initiatives)
Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC)
PUNJAB HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION
10th Floor, Arfa Software Technology Park,
346-B, Ferozepur Road, Lahore
Thematic Research Proposals
Budget Sheet
Sr. #
Item/ Detail of Budget Expanses
Proposed
Budget
Human Resource Expanse
1
Project Allowance to Principal Investigator (@ Rs. 40,000/- per month)
4,80,000/-
2
Project Allowance to Co-investigator (@ Rs. 20,000/- per month)
2,40,000/-
3
Research Assistant (@ Rs. 15,000/- per month)
1,80,000/Sub-total 9,00,000/-
Project Related Expenses
4
Stationary (@ Rs. 20,000/- maximum)
6
Purchase/subscription of Databases/information/ literature etc.
7
Data Collection (field activity)
8
Data Processing and Analysis (@ Rs. 50,000/- maximum & one-time-payment)
9
Binding of Final 10 copies
10
Report Writing (@ Rs. 2,00,000/- maximum)
11
04 CDs of the final project
12
Fee for Technical Review Committee to be formed by PHEC @ Rs.
10,000/- per review (maximum 2 reviews)
13
Journal Publication Fee
14
Contingencies
Sub-total (Should not exceed the 70% of the total expenses)
Grand Total
PUNJAB HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION
10th Floor, Arfa Software Technology Park,
346-B, Ferozepur Road, Lahore
Ph. No. 042-99231906 Fax No. 042-99231902
PART-B
Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
for DEVELOPMENT OF INDIGENOUS RESEARCH DATABASE
Every year, a heap of research knowledge is produced indigenously by the local scholars
and researchers. But unfortunately, due to the poor management, indexing, and retrieval
system, the visibility and utility of indigenously produced knowledge are undermined. Punjab
Higher Education Commission (PHEC) strives to serve the researchers, faculty members and
students of the province by taking an initiative to establish an Indigenous Research Database
(IRD).
The development of Indigenous Research Database (IRD), under the ownership of PHEC,
is the first step to creating an official digital repository to provide a platform to access
indigenous scientific literature of the Punjab. All the research papers, theses or any other
researches produced by faculty; students or researchers affiliated with any public or private
sector university or research organization shall be available in this repository for academic and
research purpose only.
The IRD shall provide the first state-of-the-art portal to all public and private universities
of the Punjab to search for the related local research conducted in the country. Till now, there
exist no such plate-form that indexes local research material. The IRD shall provide the scholarly
community with the tools to quickly review the related literature and to contribute back to
society in a more effective way, instead of reinventing the same wheel. The IRD shall be
extremely useful for the Social Science community where most of the research material would
be the published work in local journals discussing locally relevant social issues.
This database would store the scholarly output and serve the local scholars regarding
their literature, data or research needs. For the purpose, PHEC seeks the proposals from the
eligible candidates from public colleges and universities for the development of state-of-the-art
Indigenous Research Database.
The system would comprise of the following parts;
1. A Search Engine, that would be openly available to all students, staff and faculty
members of the universities and would cater their research needs.
2. Full-text Database for Indigenous Research Repository where libraries or research
administrators of universities would be able to upload meta-data such as
journals/research articles/conference papers, books, monologues, book chapters,
thesis, patents of the students, researchers, and faculty members.
3. The system shall also provide plagiarism report while comparing newly uploaded
document with the entire repository of IRD.
OBJECTIVES
Followings are the broader objectives to be achieved through this initiative
1. To facilitate the researchers, faculty members and students of the province by providing
online platform to access indigenous scientific literature of the Punjab
2. To enhance the visibility of indigenous research material.
3. To create awareness among the researchers and faculty member of the province by
providing them tools to identify the originality of scientific literature.
BUDGET ESTIMATES
Maximum funding for each research project would limit up to Rs. 3 million. Principal
Developer (PD) will submit a detailed budget proposal for his/her project on the prescribed
Proforma available at www.phunjabhec.gov.pk/. The budget will be prepared as per the
allocated budget heads where human resource expenditure would not exceed 30% of total
budget. 70% of the budget would be consumed exclusively on the development of the project.
No additional budget will be provided for the project.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
The Principal Developer (PD) of the project is required to be a full-time regular faculty
member (BPS or TTS) or on contact not less than project life in public sector colleges and
universities of Punjab.
Maximum funding for Research Proposal may be up to 03 million.
PD cannot submit more than one (01) research project.
Applications may be considered ineligible if.
a. Incomplete
b. Not filed in prescribed proforma
c. Not received by A&R Division of PHEC on or before the closing date.
d. Application forms are not signed/countersigned/endorsed by the head of the
institution, vice chancellor/Rector/Director of HEIs.
e. CV of PD is not attached.
PROPOSAL REVIEW PROCESS
The submitted project proposals will be reviewed by a committee of experts constituted
by PHEC. The recommended project proposals will qualify for the grant on the final approval of
competent authority.
DEADLINE OF SUBMISSION
The last date to submit the project proposals is May 29, 2017 (Monday). Applications,
complete in all respect, should reach to Director, Academics & Research (A&R) PHEC on or
before the deadline.
SUBMISSION OF RESEARCH PROPOSALS
PDs will submit the research proposals along with the attached budget Proforma and
supporting documents in the following order.
Sr. #
Document
To be annexed as
1
Project Proposal
Annexure- A
2
Duly filled Budget proforma
Annexure- B
3
Attested copy of CNIC
Annexure- C
4
Detailed CV
Annexure- D
5
Verified copy (from university) of the highest degree
Annexure- E
6
Details of projects previously conducted/ currently undergoing
Annexure- F
Dr. Muhammad Shahid Soroya
Director General (Special initiatives)
Punjab Higher Education Commission (PHEC)
PUNJAB HIGHER EDUCATION COMMISSION
10th Floor, Arfa Software Technology Park,
346-B, Ferozepur Road, Lahore
DEVELOPMENT OF INDIGENOUS RESEARCH DATABASE
Budget Sheet
Sr. #
Item/ Detail of Budget Expanses
Human Resource Expanse
1
Project Allowance to Principal Developer
2
Project Allowance to Co-Developer
3
Database Assistant
Sub-total ( Should not exceed 30% of the total expenses)
Project Related Expenses
4
Equipment
5
Services
6
Stationary @ Rs. 20,000/-
7
Training
8
Traveling
9
Technical Review Committee fee @ Rs. 10,000/review (for 2 reviews)
10
Contingencies
Sub-total (Should not exceed the 70% of the total expenses)
Grand Total
Proposed
Budget